What everbody else already knows

Doe walks slowly towards a bench on the other side of the parking lot. She is looking down at the ground as she walks, as if she is trying to gather up the courage she needs to tell you what is bothering her. You don’t need any other encouragement. You quickly catch up to her and take her hand just before you reach the bench.

“Sit.” Doe tells you.

“Woof. Woof.” You say as you beg and pant like a dog.

“Smart ass.” She chuckles as she sits next to you and takes your hand in hers. “There is something that I need to tell you, but it’s gonna be hard for me to say it, so please be patient with me John.

“Take your time. I think I know what you are gonna tell me, but take your time.” You reassure her as you put your free hand on top of hers.

“What do you think I’m going to tell you?” She asks as she looks back towards the diner in disgust.

“My mom doesn’t have much time left, does she?” You say with a lump in your throat. Despite your pain, Doe’s face brightens up.

“No. No, that’s not it. That’s not it at all. Your mom is doing fine. In fact, the doctors have never seen someone recover the way she has. They are talking to hospitals all over the country about her in fact. No, what I have to tell you is about you.” She sighs.

“Ooookay?” You say through a very puzzled look.

“Like I said, it is not gonna be easy for me to say it. But it’s gonna be harder for you to hear it.” She tells you as she gives your hand a squeeze.

“Um…” is all you respond with.

“I was so excited when I heard you were coming home, but that died off quickly when I realized that it was only for a few days. It meant that I would have just a few hours to summon up the courage to tell you what I should have told you a thousand times already. As the day you came back got closer, the harder things got for me.” She says as a tear wells up in her eye.

“Hey, it’s me. You can tell me anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad. I’m here for you.” You tell her. It bucks her up a bit, but it doesn’t prevent her from shedding a few tears.

“Okay. So here it goes. I’ve been keeping a really big secret from you for almost four years now. Yesterday, when you took Courtney upstairs to see your mother, she greeted her as “Gamma Fran” right?” You nod as Doe keeps talking. “Well, that’s not just something we told her to call her because we are over there all the time. She really is Courtney’s grandma.”

“Huh?” You respond as the puzzled look returns to your face.

“What I’m trying to tell you John, is that you are Courtney’s daddy.” She says as another set of tears falls from her eyes.

“What?” You murmur.

“You are her father. She is your daughter, not Hank’s. I wanted to wait until tomorrow night to tell you, so our date would be even more special, but I was afraid it might ruin it instead.” She sobs. “I’m sorry.”